Volunteers bid to collate tales of the waterway

Volunteers are needed to gather information and stories about Pocklington Canal for an exhibition.

Published:16:00

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The Pocklington Canal is 200 years old this summer and as part of the celebrations the Canal and River Trust is looking to share its story.

As part of the bicentenary activities, the trust is going to be collating the stories of the Pocklington Canal, showcasing how it went from an essential but short-lived transport link, to a protected natural habitat, boaters’ haven and much-loved community space.

The trust is appealing for volunteers to help gather the stories and archive material ahead of the bicentenary exhibition in the summer.

They will receive training from the Trust’s archivist John Benson at a workshop on Tuesday 13 March from 2pm to 5pm, with further support as the project develops.

Lizzie Dealey, Pocklington Canal project officer at the trust, said: “Pocklington Canal had a short lifespan as a commercial transport route, and sadly spent many years in decline, but thanks to PCAS and the Trust it is now a well-used and much-loved waterway, not only by boaters but also by people on the towpath and a wide array of wildlife.

“We’re looking forward to helping people discover the stories of the canal through the years and would be delighted to hear from anyone who has a tale to share about their experiences on or by the water, as well as people who would like to help us compile this special history archive.”

For more details about volunteering for the oral history project and to reserve a space on the workshop, visit: https://goo.gl/YuFgLF.

Visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk to find our more about the bicentenary celebrations.